Chapter 6: Reconnaissance

Modern information technologies (ITs) have created conditions for the con- frontation of states, combatants, and non-state actors in a fundamentally new arenathe information sphere. Information, information processing, and communications networks are at the core of every military activity. The concepts of time, space, force, navigation, speed, precision, and lethality have changed because of the capabilities of information-age technology and the availability of information. These changes have a tremendous effect on how military forces conduct activities. The OPFOR addresses this issue through continued refinement of its information warfare (IW) doctrine.

The OPFOR defines information warfare as the specifically planned and integrated actions taken to achieve an information advantage at critical points and times. The ultimate goal of IW is to influence decision makers. The OPFOR conducts IW at all levels of warfarestrategic, operational, and tacticalbut without regard to strict definitional boundaries among these levels. Opponents of the State are subject to IW regardless of the level and degree of engagement in other types of operations. The State’s leadership integrates all instruments of powerdiplomatic-political, economic, military, and informationalto implement an information strategy. One element of power may have primacy over the others at a given time, but all work together.

In the OPFOR’s view, skillful application of IW can facilitate the defeat of a technologically superior enemy. It can challenge or counter an enemy’s goal of information dominance. The OPFOR can target key components (such as technology providing situational awareness, and advanced com- puting and communications technologies) that provide such dominance, thus shaking the opponent’s confidence.

New Concepts of Information in Warfare

The State envisions an operational environment (OE) in which the battlespace stretches from the depths of an opponent’s territory to the center of the State’s political, economic, and military organizations. This OE is con- ducive to the practice of IW. Combat cannot be confined to a single battle- space, but instead will often expand globally to encompass attacks on an adversary’s information and space systems or his entire information environment.